Displaced civilians struggle to access healthcare after junta airstrike destroys Ponnagyun clinic

By Admin 12 Oct 2026

DMG Newsroom

12 October 2026, Ponnagyun

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) and impoverished residents across Ponnagyun Township, Arakan State, are facing severe health crises following a military junta airstrike that destroyed a local free clinic, according to aid workers and displaced civilians.

On October 5, junta jet fighters bombed Saytana Clinic in Ponnagyun Township, killing 18-year-old trainee nurse Ma Khine Thazin Soe at the scene.

The attack completely demolished the clinic's infrastructure and destroyed essential medical supplies and equipment, creating major obstacles to providing free healthcare to displaced families, said singer Ko R Gyi, the clinic's founder.

"The public donations and community resources built up over time were destroyed in an instant," Ko R Gyi said. "Our capacity to deliver humanitarian assistance has been stripped away. The clinic that served as a lifeline for displaced civilians has been forced to cease operations entirely."

Saytana Clinic was established as a community funded medical facility supported by domestic and international donors. It provided free healthcare services to displaced populations across Ponnagyun Township regardless of race or religion.

The destruction of the clinic, the death of a healthcare worker, and the loss of critical medical supplies have drawn strong condemnation from humanitarian organizations and local community groups.

Displaced residents said the loss of the clinic has severely compromised their access to emergency care and basic treatment.

"Hearing about the bombing of Saytana Clinic was heartbreaking," said a displaced woman in Ponnagyun Township. "It was a facility that offered free treatment to refugees in times of hardship. Now, when people fall ill, accessing care is nearly impossible due to ongoing air raid threats and transport difficulties. If possible, we hope donors at home and abroad can help Ko R Gyi rebuild and reopen the clinic."

Before the attack on the clinic, junta jet fighters bombed Byarla IDP Camp, located between Thayetcho and Yoengu villages in Ponnagyun Township, on October 4, killing six civilians and wounding 10 others.

On October 5, junta jet fighters conducted a bombing run lasting half an hour, targeting Saytana Clinic near Pannilar IDP Camp and nearby Aungphyupyin Village.

"The defeated military junta conducts air raids on Ponnagyun Township nearly every day," another displaced woman in Ponnagyun Township said. "They are specifically targeting IDP camps and clinics set up to care for refugees. Without the clinic, families facing health emergencies are left in desperate situations."

As military operations continue across Arakan State, junta forces have repeatedly targeted civilian populated areas, hospitals, clinics, and schools.

On International Human Rights Day, December 10, 2025, a junta jet fighter dropped two 500-pound bombs on Mrauk-U Hospital at around 9 p.m., killing 33 civilians, injuring at least 78 others, and destroying major hospital buildings.